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USA roster named for men's U-20 World Cup qualifying tournament

Coach Tab Ramos has named his 20-player roster for 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship in Bradenton, Florida (Nov. 1-21) from which four teams will qualify for the 2019 U-20 World
Cup in Poland (May 23-June 15).

The new qualifying format, which removed the regional Central American and Caribbean qualifiers, created a 34-team tournament and the USA could play as many as
eight games. Teams that advance to the qualification stage by winning their group may replace up to six players on their roster. Concacaf has not made public the list of 35 players from which teams
can chose replacements.

While U-20 eligible players who have already established themselves with the full national team -- Josh
Sargent, Tyler Adams andTim Weah -- are unlikely to join Ramos' team -- the national team plays
at England Nov. 15 and against Italy Nov. 20 -- U-20 MLS players possibly called in for the qualification stage, depending on their playoff situation, include Atlanta United’s
Andrew Carleton and D.C. United’s Chris Durkin.

Foreign-based U-20s not on the initial roster include Chris Richards (on loan to Bayern
Munich's U-19s from FC Dallas), Sebastian Soto (Hannover U-19s), Sergino Dest (Jong Ajax) andJonathan Amon (FC
Nordsjaelland). Amon made his full national team debut while starting in the USA's 1-1 tie with Peru Oct. 16.

• The roster is comprised of 10 19-year-olds, eight
18-year-olds and 17-year-olds, Araujo and Llanez, who are also eligible for the 2021 U-20 World Cup.

“I’m looking forward to this U-20 World Cup qualifying challenge,” Ramos
said. “This new format provides opportunities to many nations and makes the qualifying process much more difficult. Although our preparation will be short, we will be ready to defend our
first-ever Concacaf title.”

The
six group winners will advance to the qualification stage, which will consist of two three-team groups. The two group winners plus the second-place finishers will qualify for the 2019 U-20 World Cup
in Poland (May 25-June 16). The two qualification stage groups winners will advance to the tournament’s final to determine the regional champion.

The USA enters as defending U-20 Concacaf champion. It is aiming to qualify for the biennial
world championship for the fourth straight time -- all with Tab Ramos as head coach -- having last failed to qualify in 2011, with Thomas Rongen at the helm.